Further Recognition For Royal Greenwich’s Well London Programme

by our RBG Correspondent


Cllr David Gardner, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care (right), joined health professionals from across Europe to see the trailblazing Well London Programme in action in Woolwich on 29 June.

In the event held at the Clockhouse Community Centre in Woolwich Dockyard, health professionals from across Europe were able to learn more about the range of successful local projects that are acting as a best practice model for the Well London Programme.

Well London works by providing a framework to help empower communities and encourage social regeneration. It is led by the Greater London Authority (GLA), the University of East London (UEL) with the Royal Borough of Greenwich (RBG) being a key partner involved in the development. It works in 33 London neighbourhoods across 20 London boroughs. The programme was established in 2008 and is supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

The Well London Programme brings together residents of all ages who are living in neighbourhoods experiencing a range of issues (such as poor health, high numbers of people who are socially isolated or who are out of work), to increase their self-reliance and to work together to find ways of making improvements. Training is provided to increase residents’ knowledge, skills, confidence and teamwork which, along with volunteering opportunities within the neighbourhood, helps boost health and wellbeing and can lead to employment.

Residents involved in the programme work with local agencies to address the needs of the neighbourhood, making use of community assets and bringing new resources into the area. In practice, this has seen several local communities, including the Woolwich Dockyard and Barnfield Estates running projects involving: a range of training and family learning, healthy eating for families, the development of a community garden and a community café.

Age UK’s successful Men in Sheds initiative is also part of the project, and provides a meeting place and workshop facilities for men aged 50 and over. Here they can join in with community activities, engage in personal projects, make items to sell, or simply have a chat over a cup of tea.

A ‘Shed’ based at the YMCA at the Woolwich Dockyard opened in 2015 and was the second of its kind to be opened in the royal borough. The first in Eltham was also the first of its kind in the UK.

The Royal Borough has been a key partner in the development of Well London’s success, and Woolwich-based projects such as Barnfield are playing a key role in shaping the programme across the capital.

The project has won the attention of campaigners, academics and funding bodies who are keen to see the approach adopted more widely. Today’s event also saw the announcement that Well London has been rated 2nd out of 41 ‘best practice examples’ by CHRODIS, an EU partnership which promotes healthy living in older life and prevention of chronic disease.

Well London is now entering phase three of the programme, which focuses on expanding its approach across the capital and beyond.

Cllr Gardner said: “Well London provides a really important framework for local communities covering a range of different services and the fact that projects across the country are starting up using the model developed in the Royal Borough is great recognition of the work and success we have had. The Royal Borough of Greenwich recognises the potential of this approach as part of its commitment to creating healthier, stronger and more resilient communities.

We are glad that Woolwich Dockyard has been recognised as an outstanding example of a Well London neighbourhood and are delighted to showcase the project’s success to our colleagues from across the CHRODIS network in Europe.”